Submarine television



Nov. 10, 1936. i HARTMAN 2,060,670

SUBMARINE TELEVISION Filed Nov. 13, 1931.

INVEN TOR.

A TTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 10, 1936- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUBMARINE TELEVISIONHans Hartman, Monaco, Monaco Application November 13, 1931. Serial No.574,835

Claims. (CI. 61-69) tographic cameras for still and moving pictures andother devices for submarine research, exploration and salvage work.

The main feature of my present invention is l5 not any particularconstruction or technical arrangement but the utilization of existing orstill unknown systems of electric television for submarine purposes incombination with watertight and water pressure resisting compartments or90 chambers, shells and the like and also, the combination of electrictelevision means .with photographic cameras and other useful deviceswhich can be utilized for submarine purposes.

As it is evident that, at the present development 25 of the art, thismain feature of my invention may be attained in varying technicalcombinations and by using various technical constructions, it is obviousthat I cannot limit myself to any particular embodiment of theinvention,

30 one of which I am describing herein and showing in the accompanyingdrawing merely to il lustrate one possible combination of parts, wherebyequal numerals designate equal or similar parts.

35 In a steel globe I, closed watertight by a removable steel cover 2,at one side in a vertical direction, and held in place by screws 2a,having a plurality of circularly arranged larger openings, closed byheavy glass or quartz-lenses 3,

attached watertight to the cover by metal rings 3a, are inserted anequal number of electric lamps 4, the light of which is intensified andreflected thru said lenses 3, by means of reflectors5, to the exteriorso as to illuminate the water in front 45 of said cover, when globe I,is submerged.

In the center of the cover 2, are providedtwo smaller openings, closedalso watertight by means of two lenses 6, and I, held in place by ametalring and cushioned at both sides by washers or 50 gaskets asindicated in heavy black lines. Thru lens 6, an image of the illuminatedexterior will.

pass into the globe I, and guided by means of a double prism 8, it willfall thru the apertures of a scanning disk 9, upon a photo-electric cellIII, 55 the latter sending feeble electric impulses which may beamplified in any manner known to those skilled in the art, by means ofelectric conductors and a cable I9, to a television receiving apparatuson board of the vessel from which the globe I, has been lowered into thewater. 5 The second lens I, willlead the same image from the exteriorthru a similar double prism II, to the lens of a photographic motionpicture camera I2, which is driven electrically and may be controlledfrom the ship. As the entire apparatus, may be preferably lighter thanthe water it displaces, alow voltage motor I3, attached (with its shaftin a vertical position) to the lowermost part of globe I will force thesame down by rotating its propeller I4, in a predetermined direction.Above the globe I, is disposed a high pressure cylinder I5, containingcompressed air. The same will pass thru a reducing valve I6, actuated byincreasing water pressure, during the descent of the globe g intogreater depths, into its interior, so as to increase the internalpressure resistance of the globe I, which may be at the start alreadyfilled with compressed air to a certain degree.

I1 designates adjustable connectors and I8, additional tubular lamps orluminous tubes to increase the submarine illumination, while I9, is 'anelectric cable and 20, a safety valve to allow thecompressed air toescape when the globe I, raises to the level and the air pressure withinit surpasses the water pressure.

The lamps 4, may be protected against the internal air pressure eitherbya steel partition arranged behind the cover 2, or the reflectors I, Imay encase each lamp individually against said compressed air.Thescanning disk 8, is driven in synchronism with a similar disk in thetelevision receiver on board the ship by an electric motor, not shown,in the usual manner. The

electric motor I3, driving propeller I4, may be 40 exposed to the seawater, to avoid friction as long as the electric'current does not passover 10 volts, as at so low voltage'no short-circuit can be caused andthe electrical losses will be small. The tubular lights I8, may be of agas-filled type or may contain short tubular incandescent lamps,protected by a heavy quartz or glass envelope, sealed watertight. Thecurrent to be used to be preferably of high voltage, direct current,

and the lamps connected in series, so as to permit the use of a thin,flexible cable and to reduce losses therein. Separate submarineilluminators may also be utilized, being lowered near the abovedescribed apparatus or near the objects to be ex- 5 directly aroundand-uponthe globe I, and being\ amined or photographed, by means ofarsecond cable and alternating current in combination with transformersmay then be used, which would discable ll, after the cylinder II, hasbeen tilled with air at a high pressure and an electric circuit closedthru the motor II, and alsothru the lamps- I, and i8, and the motorrotating the scanning disk I, is running in synchronism with a similarmotor and scanning disk in the receiving appa y ratus, installed in adarkened cabin oi the ship, an image or the illuminated area under waterwill be transmitted and appear upon a screen or the like. a

As soon as anything oi suilicient interest be comes visible, an observermay close an electric circuit thru the motor 01' the motion picturecamera or thru an electrical mechanism of any photographic still cameraso as to obtain photographic records of what can be seen at that momentin the television receiving apparatus, co-

operating with the submarine television sending device described.

It shal) be pointed out that I do not wish to limit myself to the use ofa television system utilizing a perforated scanning disk or to any oneparticular other system of receiving and transmitting television images.However, at the present development oi the art of television, the use.of a scanning disk appears to be preferable for submarine television toany other known system, due to its simplicity and compactness, asagainst for example 0! revolving mirrors an polarizing prism, etc.

a To increase thebrilliancy of illumination, additional submarine lightsmaybe disposed either led with the necessary electriccurrent by the samecable, or by additional cables. Or said additional submarine lights mayform separate units and be supplied with electric energy by separatecables. 7

From the vessel the submarine television images or electric impulses oithe photo-electric cell 0, may be transmitted by wireless, aitcrhavdescribed herein produces as images of thellluminated area deep belowthe water level.

,Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. A submarine television apparatus comprising a hermetically sealedcasing, electrically driven television and photographic means in saidcasing in combinationwith electric submarine illuminators.

2. A submarine television apparatus comprising a watertight sealedcasing, means to lower said easing into the water, electrically driventelevision receiving and transmitting means and a photographic camerawithin said casing.

3. A submarine television receiver comprising a watertight closedchamber, electrically driven and distantly controlled television imagereceiving means and a motion picture camera within said chamber.

. 4. 'A submarine television receiver and image transmitter comprisingawatertight closed chamher,v electrically driven and distantly controlledelectric television image receiving and transmitting means andphotographing apparatus within said chamber in combination with electricilluminating means adapted to be used under water.

5. A submarine television apparatus in comtelevision images receiving,and transmitting means and photographing apparatus within said HANSHARTMAN.

